Chapter Ninety-Nine: A Double Serving of Dog Food

Song Chengyi sighed, walked over, and embraced her through the sleeping bag. It wasn’t long before Gan Yanyan brought over Song Chengyi’s fire-warming cup. She delivered it quietly, and then tactfully left.

Song Chengyi tucked the warm cup into the sleeping bag. In her sleep, Luo Yixia rolled over and, still inside her sleeping bag, drew closer to Song Chengyi. It felt so warm. Song Chengyi gently placed his large hand on Luo Yixia’s stomach; she clung to his hand.

While warmth and tenderness filled the tent, outside, Gan Yanyan was far less comfortable. She felt utterly miserable. The amount of “dog food” she’d consumed, not to mention sacrificing her own tent, meant she’d spend the night sitting outside. Her best friend’s romance was certainly putting her through the wringer.

Yu Bin woke from his sleep to find Song Chengyi’s spot still empty. Hadn’t he said he was going to the restroom? Why hadn’t he returned yet? It was past midnight. Still groggy, Yu Bin wandered out, worried. He looked around but didn’t see Song Chengyi; instead, he spotted Luo Yixia asleep against a tree. Though it was summer, she hadn’t covered herself. She could easily catch a chill.

Yu Bin draped his jacket over Gan Yanyan. Unexpectedly, the gesture startled her awake. Seeing Yu Bin, she was confused. “What’s wrong? Is it time for a shift? Did we change watch?” She stood up, still half-asleep, and headed toward the tent. Halfway there, she remembered something and sat back down.

“Why aren’t you going in to sleep? Isn’t it your turn?” Yu Bin asked, puzzled at her delay.

“I actually think it’s quite comfortable sleeping outside,” Gan Yanyan replied, leaning against the tree, making excuses.

Yu Bin clicked his tongue, unable to fathom her logic. “By the way, have you seen Song Chengyi? He said he was going to the restroom, but I’ve slept and woken up and he’s still not back. Nothing happened to him, right?” The thought made Yu Bin even more anxious. They were in the wilderness, isolated and deserted—what if something had happened?

“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” Gan Yanyan said, eyes closed, not wanting to talk.

“Why? Did you see him? Where is he now? It’s so late and he’s still not back!” Yu Bin was frantic.

“I told you not to worry. He’s sleeping in the tent,” Gan Yanyan murmured, eyes still shut.

“Nonsense, I just came out of the tent. No, something must’ve happened. I’m going to look for him.” Yu Bin stood up, alarmed.

Gan Yanyan instantly became alert. If he went and woke everyone, Xia Xia and Song Chengyi would be discovered. “Listen to me first,” Gan Yanyan pulled him back down.

“What is there to say? We’re outside—last time Luo Yixia got lost, and now Song Chengyi’s missing. What if something happens?” Yu Bin, impatient by nature, spoke quickly.

“He is indeed sleeping in the tent, but... he’s in my tent,” Gan Yanyan blurted out.

Yu Bin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What are you talking about? Isn’t Luo Yixia in your tent? Did Song Chengyi go to the wrong tent? Why didn’t you say anything? That’s your best friend!” Yu Bin stood up again.

Gan Yanyan grew impatient. “Sit down and let me finish.”

Yu Bin sat down, half-convinced. “Um... Xia Xia wasn’t feeling well, so Song Chengyi went to take care of her.”

Yu Bin was even more confused. He knew Song Chengyi seemed interested in Luo Yixia, but things had progressed fast. “Wait... weren’t they not together? Song Chengyi went to care for her, alone, in a tent...”

“Why are you so dense?” Gan Yanyan looked at him as if he were an idiot. “Can’t you see? They’re a couple.”

“But... how...?” Yu Bin was so shocked he couldn’t even speak.

“I’ll tell you straight. They’ve known each other for ages and are already together. They pretend not to know each other to avoid suspicion, acting unfamiliar in front of others.” Gan Yanyan said irritably. If she didn’t explain, Yu Bin would never stop pestering her—though she felt guilty for betraying Song Chengyi, having promised to tell no one.

“How do you know?”

“That’s just it. You have no sense. Honestly, you spend every day with Song Chengyi and didn’t notice?” Gan Yanyan looked at him in exasperation.

“Damn... I wondered why Song Chengyi was suddenly interested in girls... Turns out the two of them were hiding it all along...” Yu Bin suddenly understood.

“And you know how those crazy fans at school are about Song Chengyi. If they found out Xia Xia and Song Chengyi were together, Xia Xia would suffer. So you must keep it secret. Xia Xia doesn’t know I know, and you shouldn’t let it slip either, okay?” Gan Yanyan instructed him firmly.

Yu Bin made a gesture as if he were zipping his lips.

Gan Yanyan nodded in satisfaction.

“So you’re just going to sit out here?” Yu Bin looked at her, pitiful and helpless.

“Well... if it’s convenient, since you’re on night duty anyway... could I borrow your tent? Thanks...” Without waiting for Yu Bin to answer, Gan Yanyan slipped into his tent.

Yu Bin was too late to stop her and let it go.

But thinking about his tent being occupied while the other tent... he sighed. How could things be so different?

At dawn, Song Chengyi opened his eyes and saw the small figure still sleeping in his arms. He gently extricated himself. Last night, he’d only meant to lie down for a moment, but had unexpectedly fallen asleep.

Stepping outside, he saw the fire pit smoldering, the flames long extinguished. Morning mist hung thickly in the forest.

Yu Bin was sleeping soundly against a tree. Song Chengyi couldn’t bear it and nudged him awake.

“Get up, the fog outside is heavy,” Song Chengyi said, looking down at him.

Yu Bin rubbed his eyes, gradually awakening. Song Chengyi headed toward his own tent without thinking.

“Wait,” Yu Bin suddenly called out.

Song Chengyi turned back, puzzled.

“Gan Yanyan’s inside,” Yu Bin muttered.

Song Chengyi understood immediately. He’d slept in Gan Yanyan’s tent, forgetting that she’d been on duty in the first half of the night.

The two men sat together in the morning dew.

“Don’t you have anything to explain?” Yu Bin couldn’t hold back, seeing Song Chengyi remain silent.

“You already know, don’t you?” Song Chengyi replied with a question.

“Damn, you’re really infuriating. I wondered why you were suddenly interested in girls. You never liked people adding you on WeChat, yet you took out your phone yourself. The moment the girl went missing, you chased after her. When she got hit by the basketball, you were the first to rush over. Tsk tsk... Why didn’t I see it earlier? You’re the medical school’s idol, the campus heartthrob...” Yu Bin shook his head as he spoke.

“You never asked, and I never denied it,” Song Chengyi said calmly.

Yu Bin felt stifled.

Still, the two sat awkwardly, as there was a girl sleeping in the tent and it wouldn’t be proper to barge in.

Soon, Gan Yanyan, with messy hair and yawning, emerged, paying no attention to her appearance. She gave the two boys outside not even a glance and went straight back to her own tent.

“What was that look? She treats you that way, but I was the one who kindly took her in last night. What does that mean? She gave me the side-eye?” Yu Bin was frustrated, recalling the contemptuous glance Gan Yanyan shot him as she left.

Song Chengyi ignored him and entered the tent to wash up.

When Luo Yixia woke, she felt she’d slept very well. Strangely, she remembered a vague sense of Song Chengyi being near her last night. She felt much more energetic than yesterday.

“Did you sleep well last night?” Gan Yanyan suddenly asked, out of nowhere.

“Pretty well,” Luo Yixia nodded, sensing a hint of jealousy in Gan Yanyan’s tone.

Seeing Luo Yixia’s improved condition, Song Chengyi relaxed. After his morning run, Luo Yixia felt parched and reached for cold water, but Song Chengyi handed her his military cup.

“Drink something warm.”

Luo Yixia took it, surprised to find it steaming. He seemed to know... She wanted to ask, but everyone was returning.

Gan Yanyan and Yu Bin, seeing the two together, turned away in perfect synchrony, deliberately ignoring them. Chen Nan glanced at them indifferently and also looked away.

During the morning run, Song Chengyi followed behind Luo Yixia and noticed something on her pants. Blushing, he turned away. When they stopped to rest, Song Chengyi went to the tent, grabbed a jacket, and tossed it to her.

Luo Yixia was confused.

Song Chengyi coughed awkwardly. “Um... your pants are dirty.”

Luo Yixia instantly understood. Her face flushed red. She hurriedly tied the jacket around her waist, biting her lip, anxious and hesitant.

Seeing her unnatural expression, Song Chengyi squatted beside her. “Are you feeling unwell?” He reached out to touch her forehead.

“No... I’m fine... It’s just... um...” Luo Yixia stammered.

“What is it?” Song Chengyi patiently waited.

“I didn’t bring... sanitary pads...” Luo Yixia finally admitted, her face crimson.

Song Chengyi blushed too.

“Uh... wait here,” Song Chengyi said, and left.

Luo Yixia wondered if he’d gone to buy them for her. For some reason, the thought made her... look forward to it?

Still, Luo Yixia forced herself to ask her classmates for help, but unfortunately, no one else was as unlucky as she was—only two girls in the class, and Gan Yanyan had lent hers yesterday.

In the end, she borrowed from another class and sighed in relief, her problem temporarily solved.